Izzy Heltai - "Marching Song"

Photo by Emma Kate Rothenberg-Ware

I stumbled on Izzy Heltai at the Freshgrass Festival, and the 22 year old Northampton, MA local was a highlight at a festival featuring talents such as Rhiannon Giddens, Flogging Molly, and I'm With Her. His newest single, "Marching Song," shows why. It's a stunning folk song, gorgeous in its simplicity while still feeling epic. It's quiet and personal, and feels like you're sitting in a room with him singing, despite there being a full band backing him. It may sound organic since Heltai's upcoming EP was recorded using vintage amps and microphones. "Marching Song" may have some mainstream appeal, but I may be detecting the hints of a Neutral Milk Hotel influence here. This is the singer/songwriter genre done to complete perfection.

You can listen to "Marching Song" below. Only Yesterday, the new EP from Izzy Heltai, will be out April 19. For more on Izzy Heltai, check out his website. Current tour dates are below the song.


April 12 - Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
April 13 - Equinunk Historical Society, Equinunk, PA
April 14 - The Shea Theater, Turners Falls, MA
April 19 - Common Folk Gallery, North Adams, MA
April 20 - Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland, ME
April 28 - The Parlor Room, Northampton, MA
May 2 - Casa Del Popolo, Montreal, QC
May 3 - Bar Robo, Ottawa, ON
May 4 - The Garnet, Petersborough, ON
May 5 -Burdock, Toronto, ON
May 7 - Sitwells Coffeehouse, Cincinnati, OH
May 9 - Sacred Springs Kombucha, Grand Rapids, MI
May 10 - The Root Note, La Crosse, WI
May 11 - Picasso's, St. Charles, MI
May 13 - Miner Brewing Company, Hill City, SD
May 14 - Black Tooth Brewery, Sheridan WY
May 16 - The Laughing Goat, Boulder, CO
May 17 - La Plaza Inn, Walsenberg, CO
May 18 - Little Horse Books, Fort Collins, CO
May 19 - Little Toad Creek Brewery, Las Cruces, NM